From 1993 to 2011 properties in the North Tacoma/Ruston area were tested by EPA for arsenic and lead contamination from the Asarco smelter. You can search for sampling results and cleanup records for properties in the EPA Ruston and North Tacoma Study Area on the Washington State Department of Ecology's website. It will take you to the Area-wide Remediation Environmental Information System (AREIS) Database, which is a joint project with Washington Department of Ecology and EPA, with help from the Tacoma Pierce County Health Department. Information on additional cleanup by the Washington Department of Ecology will be added to this database as the work is completed.

EPA sampled 3,570 properties and cleaned up 2,436 with the worst contamination, within a one square mile area of Ruston and north Tacoma centered around the former smelter. Washington Department of Ecology will now offer voluntary yard cleanups within a larger study area. Learn more about the Department of Ecology and the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department’s work to clean up properties: